Articles tagged with "wind-turbine"
Tiny wind turbine gets 83% more power with breakthrough rotor design
German researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP), in collaboration with the BBF Group, have developed a lightweight small wind turbine featuring a breakthrough rotor design that significantly enhances energy output and durability. The turbine’s fiber-composite rotor blades, produced using an automated fiber placement process and industrial 3D printing, are hollow and 35% lighter than conventional foam-core blades. This design allows the turbine to start generating power at much lower wind speeds (2.7 m/s) compared to typical small turbines (4 m/s), enabling efficient operation in areas with previously insufficient wind conditions. Wind tunnel tests demonstrated that the turbine can reach up to 450 RPM and produce 2,500 watts at 10 m/s wind speed, delivering approximately 83% more power than comparable models and achieving an efficiency of 53%, close to the theoretical Betz limit of 59%. The rotor blades’ special laminate structure also provides elastic flexibility to withstand strong winds by automatically slowing rotation without
energyrenewable-energywind-turbinefiber-composite-materialsaerodynamicslightweight-designdecentralized-energyWind turbine that can operate in extreme cold launched in Canada
The Nordex Group, a German original equipment manufacturer, has launched the N175/6.X wind turbine in Canada, designed specifically to operate efficiently in extreme cold conditions down to -30°C (-22°F). Featuring the Nordex Advanced Anti-Icing System, the turbine prevents ice build-up on rotor blades, significantly reducing downtime and ensuring consistent performance in harsh climates. Built on the proven Delta4000 modular platform, which has sold over 40 GW globally, the N175/6.X boasts a 175-meter rotor and up to 7 MW rated output, optimized for low to medium wind conditions typical of many Canadian sites. This new turbine achieves 7 to 14 percent higher energy yields compared to its predecessors, particularly excelling during lighter wind speeds with up to 22 percent more energy production. It offers flexible site-dependent power modes to adapt to sound, load, and power requirements, and can be equipped with additional features such as a bat module and on-demand night-time marking. Designed for
energywind-turbinerenewable-energycold-climate-technologyanti-icing-systemNordex-Groupsustainable-power-generationSweden’s UFO scare at sea turns out to be a wind turbine blade
Sweden’s coast guard recently investigated a reported unidentified floating object (UFO) off the country’s west coast, which turned out to be a large, drifting wind turbine blade measuring approximately 15 by 5 meters. The object was initially reported by the Marine Corps and the Smögen Sea Rescue Company due to concerns it posed a hazard to shipping. After securing and towing the object ashore near the Norway border, authorities identified it as a battered turbine wing rather than any extraterrestrial technology. The origin of the blade remains unclear, with possibilities including detachment from one of Sweden’s few offshore wind farms or loss during transport. This incident follows a similar recent case where a supposed UFO was revealed to be a rusty hot water heater, highlighting the ongoing issue of maritime debris posing risks to navigation and requiring coast guard intervention. The discovery comes amid Sweden’s cautious reassessment of wind power development, especially after the government canceled 13 planned wind farms last year over concerns about interference with military radar amid geopolitical tensions with
energywind-turbinerenewable-energyoffshore-wind-farmsmaritime-safetySwedenturbine-bladePlot twist: Why a two-bladed wind turbine actually works now
Envision Energy has revived the two-blade wind turbine design with its Model X prototype, demonstrating performance comparable to traditional three-blade turbines. After decades of two-blade designs being sidelined due to issues like vibration and uneven loading, Envision’s prototype has operated onshore in Inner Mongolia for over 500 days with 99.3% availability and a mean time between failures of 2,444 hours. This success is attributed to a decade of refinements including a high-speed doubly-fed induction generator, modular components, lightweight construction, and advanced control systems that effectively manage vibration and load imbalance, challenges that previously hindered two-blade turbines. Aerodynamic studies show that while adding a second blade significantly improves efficiency over a single blade, the third blade offers only marginal gains. Two-blade turbines reduce material costs and logistical challenges, such as transporting oversized blades, which can be significant bottlenecks in onshore wind projects. Envision’s prototype, operating at higher rotational speeds due to its
energywind-turbinerenewable-energyEnvision-Energyturbine-efficiencysustainable-technologywind-powerChina's secret 2-blade wind turbine runs 500 days with 99.3% uptime
China’s Envision Energy has unveiled a breakthrough two-blade onshore wind turbine prototype that has operated continuously for over 500 days with a 99.3% uptime. Built on the company’s Model X platform, the turbine features a modular design and high-speed Doubly-Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) technology, delivering enhanced stability and performance. The prototype achieved 2,444 hours of Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and 3,048 full-load equivalent hours annually, matching the output of traditional three-blade turbines at the same site. This marks a significant advancement in overcoming the historical structural and balance challenges that limited two-blade turbine adoption. The turbine’s development stems from over a decade of research, including a 2012 offshore two-blade model called the Game Changer. Extensive field and lab testing, including on a multi-degree-of-freedom loading rig, validated its commercial readiness and operational stability under demanding conditions. The design’s lighter weight, fewer
energywind-turbinerenewable-energyEnvision-Energygreen-technologymodular-designDFIG-technologyWorld's most powerful turbine blades to be tested to power 40,000 homes
Dongfang Electric Corporation is set to test three ultra-long wind turbine blades, each measuring 502 feet (153 meters) and weighing 92 US tons (83.5 metric tons), for what is expected to be the world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine with a capacity of 26 megawatts (MW). These blades, taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza and nearly as tall as the Washington Monument, represent a significant advancement in wind energy technology. The turbine’s hub will be positioned at 607 feet (185 meters) high, with a rotor diameter exceeding 1,017 feet (310 meters), breaking previous size records in the offshore wind sector. The blades have completed static testing and are now preparing for fatigue testing before offshore deployment. This 26 MW turbine is projected to generate approximately 68 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, enough to power nearly 40,000 homes, marking a major contribution to China’s renewable energy targets. Dongfang Electric, traditionally not a leading
energywind-turbineoffshore-windrenewable-energyturbine-bladesDongfang-Electricwind-power-technologyNantucket Settlement Over Wind Turbine Blade Detachment Doesn't End Dissatisfaction - CleanTechnica
The article discusses ongoing dissatisfaction among Nantucket officials following a turbine blade detachment incident at the Vineyard Wind offshore project. Last summer, a turbine blade broke, scattering debris into the ocean and onto Nantucket’s beaches, forcing beach closures during the island’s peak tourist season and damaging the community’s economy. The blade failure was traced to insufficient bonding during manufacturing at a Quebec plant, where rushed production led to inadequate quality checks. GE Vernova, the turbine manufacturer, responded by firing or suspending several workers and removing other blades from the site. Despite a $10.5 million settlement between Nantucket and GE Vernova, which includes a Community Claims Fund to compensate local businesses, officials remain dissatisfied. They have issued 15 demands to Vineyard Wind, including concerns about turbine lighting and the exclusion of Nantucket in emergency plans. The article situates this incident within broader tensions around offshore wind development in New England, highlighting political opposition, misinformation campaigns, and delays in other projects like Revolution Wind. The Nantucket
energyoffshore-windwind-turbinerenewable-energyclean-energyturbine-blade-failureenvironmental-impactWorld’s largest floating wind turbine to power 40,000 homes yearly
China has unveiled the world’s largest and most powerful direct-drive floating wind turbine, a 17-megawatt unit developed by China Huaneng Group and Dongfang Electric Corporation. Standing 498 feet tall with a rotor diameter of 859 feet, the turbine can generate 68 million kilowatt-hours annually—enough to power approximately 40,000 homes. It is engineered to withstand extreme deep-sea conditions, including waves over 78 feet high and typhoon-level winds, thanks to an integrated intelligent sensing system that ensures stability and continuous operation with over 99% availability. The turbine will undergo offshore testing near Yangjiang, Guangdong Province. A key highlight of this project is its fully domestic supply chain, featuring China’s first large-diameter main shaft bearing and other core components made entirely in China. This self-sufficiency reduces reliance on foreign suppliers and strengthens China’s clean energy industry amid growing global competition in floating offshore wind technology. The turbine’s success supports China’s broader energy strategy
energyrenewable-energywind-turbinefloating-wind-poweroffshore-windclean-energyChina-energy-innovationWhat's Up With Wyoming's Crazy New Wind Turbine?
Wyoming is the site of the first utility-scale test of an innovative wind turbine developed by Airloom Energy, a local startup focused on drastically reducing the cost of wind power. Supported initially by a $225,000 NSF Small Business Innovation Research grant in 2016, Airloom aims to produce electricity at just 2.8 cents per kWh by using a radically different design that minimizes blade size and lowers transportation, maintenance, and land costs. Their turbine features blades that rotate around a low-to-the-ground oval track rather than a traditional horizontal axis atop tall towers, addressing common aesthetic objections to wind farms and enabling more flexible site placement despite lower wind speeds at reduced altitudes. Since its inception, Airloom has secured significant funding, including $750,000 from NSF in 2017, a $4 million seed round in 2023 backed by Bill Gates–affiliated Breakthrough Energy Ventures and others, plus $5 million from Wyoming’s Energy Matching Funds and a $1.25 million
energywind-turbinerenewable-energyAirloom-Energywind-power-innovationclean-energysustainable-technologyWindRunner: US eyes world’s largest plane for military cargo needs
energywind-energymilitary-logisticscargo-transportaerospacewind-turbinedual-use-technology